First XI: Westlake ends King’s three-match winning streak

Despite a tough loss to Westlake, Tom Nelson earns his well-deserved baggy.

Saturday, 9 March 2024

Westlake Boys’ High – 214/9 in 50 overs

King’s College – 170 all out in 48.2 overs

On a three-match winning streak, King’s were high on confidence and were contemplating the opportunity of moving into the top two of this exciting and entertaining Premiership competition. The green track had a major influence on King’s decision to bowl after winning the toss and for the first time this season, pace in the form of Tim Hamilton (Year 13, Marsen), Finn Priddy (Year 13, Marsden), Tom Boucher (Year 12, Greenbank) and Tom Nelson (Year 12, Marsden) dominated the first session. The Westlake top order was patient, taking no risks, with the first boundary coming in the 10^th over. Only three boundaries were scored in the first 25 overs, indicating the disciplined bowling and the no-risk approach. By the second drinks break, Westlake had lurched to 100/5, and King’s would have anticipated a sub-160 score. The spin bowlers controlled the second session and generally bowled to plan. The spin trio of Malcolm Barrow (Year 11, School), Aekkam Sarao (Year 11, Parnell) and Joel Gardner (Year 12, St John’s) bowled 26 overs amongst them, claiming four wickets for a total of 98 runs – a good effort on a green track. At 126/6, at the end of the 40^th, King’s would have felt they were in control but did not anticipate the impending carnage that was looming. The death overs, especially the last four, cost King’s heavily as Westlake profited from a combination of inconsistent bowling and strong batting. The opposition batsmen took the score beyond the psychological barrier of 200, scoring 48 runs in the final four overs at 12 RPO. The fielding was good in patches, with some fine catches taken by Boucher, Gardner and Jack Hernon (Year 13, Selwyn), a livewire behind the stumps, constantly encouraging his teammates to stay in the game.

With a target of 215 for victory, King’s needed one strong partnership or a few good ones. Sam Bamford (Year 11, Major) and Nelson were separated in the 10^th over at 31/1. Two quick wickets of Nelson and Morgan Tapper (Year 13, St John’s) halted the momentum, but Varnan Pasupati (Year 12, Greenbank) and Boucher remained firm till drinks with the score at 56/3 and King’s on target to secure victory. Two further wickets in rapid succession saw the King’s innings begin to splutter. Sarao and Hernon slowly rebuilt and then grew their partnership into something promising. They stopped the rot that appeared in the 20^th over with the dismissal of Boucher and were together for the next 14 overs till drinks – 123/5, a partnership of 54 valuable runs. They rotated the strike well, with Sarao happy to take a single and let the more imposing Hernon dictate terms. Hernon, however, played low-risk strokes instead of his natural game but succumbed to the persistent pace of the host attack – 131/6 in the 38^th over, 84 runs required with the less experienced and low-on-confidence tail in attendance. Westlake dried up the boundaries and, with good bowling, made King’s graft hard for the few singles and twos on offer. Only one boundary was scored after the dismissal of Hernon and as the run rate mounted, errors in judgement prevailed and King’s were all out for 170 runs in the 49^th over.

King’s lose by 44 runs.

Baggy: Tom Nelson

Batting:

Bowling: